Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga Situation Draws Exasperated Brian Windhorst Reaction

Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga situation draws exasperated Brian Windhorst reaction originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brian Windhorst echoed what many around the NBA — including some Warriors fans — are feeling in regard Jonathan Kuminga’s ongoing situation with the Warriors.

ESPN’s senior NBA writer joined “NBA Today” on Thursday, and reacted to colleague’s Anthony Slater’s report on Kuminga demanding a trade from the Warriors.

“What are we doing here? What are we doing here, leading off the signature show on the NBA, talking about a player who hasn’t played in a month? Who’s having the worst shooting season of his career, and who’s playing for a team that self-describes as mediocre — Jimmy Butler called the team mediocre the other day, he wasn’t wrong,” Windhorst said.

“Steve Kerr called the team a fading dynasty, and he wasn’t wrong. What are we doing here? If he had an offer last summer from another team, he would have signed an offer sheet. He didn’t have an offer sheet. I’ve had enough of this. This is not a significant thing. Just move on. I can’t take it anymore.”

Windhorst’s frustration, of course, was not directed at Slater or any of his ESPN colleagues, rather the years-long saga between Kuminga and the Warriors, and how the young forward and the team, now in Year 5 together, still have not figured out how to proceed forward.

The complicated nature of the relationship between Kuminga and Golden State reached its apex this summer, with Kuminga, a restricted free agent, and the front office, engaging in a months-long stand-off that eventually resulted in the young forward signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract on Sept. 30.

“We’ve seen Anthony Slater go through four seasons in his backyard talking about this story — about a guy who is not (playing),” Windhorst added. “Two weeks ago, he had a chance to play, and he said ‘I’ve got a back injury’.”

After four-plus years of countless trade rumors and falling in and out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotations, Kuminga, who has registered 14 consecutive DNP-CDs (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision) since Golden State’s loss to the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 18, appears to be on his way out before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Or does he?

ESPN reported on Thursday that Golden State’s decision-makers have given zero assurances to teams that Kuminga will be dealt this season, which begs the question: Could this saga continue into the summer?

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